Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-16
BOLD BURGLARS.
Two MEN Discovered I'm Clara
Norris, wardrobe.

IWO Mcm DAsCOvcke0 -.
Morris, Wardrobe.
One Of the boldsst attempts at robbery
that ever occurred in this city took place
last night at the Nadeau House. at about
half-past 9 o'clock, when two young
men, fully armed, were found in the
wardrobe of the rooms occupied by Clara
Morris. 1t seems that the gifted actress
has with her o very valuable collection
of diamonds and other jewelry, and that
it was this the burglars were after. Ed.
Hays and Burt Frank were the names of
the burglars, and both had been bell
boys at the Nadeau House, one having
retired about two weeks ago, and the
other resigned on Monday evening. One
of them had, no doubt, seen Clara Morris
wear q portion of her jewels, and their
plan was to enter her room while she
was at the theater, take the jewels, and
leave for San Francisco this morning.
Fortunately they were frustrated in their
plan by the prompt action of w. w.
Lloyd, the watchman OF the hotel.
shortly bofore the hour named a lady,
who occupies the rooms adjoining those
of Clara Morris, heard noises in Miss
Morris rooms, and knowing that
she was then at the Grand
Opera House playing Camille. she
hastened to communicate with Mr..
Lloyd. who went up stairs and tried to
open the door by means of his pass key.
1t would not enter the keyhole, and
upon examination he found that there
was another key in the hole on the in
side of the room. MIR. Lloyd then be.
and he called to the burglars to open
the door, but received no answer. He
then procured the assistance of some of
the guests, and stationing them where
they could guard the passage, went to
another door, which he unlocked.
When he entered the room the gas was
burning, and casting glance around he
preceived no one. After a close search
under the furniture, he came to the con-
clusion that they were in the wardrobe,
and he opened the door of that closet,
and saw two men standing still and as
sstraight as sticks" As he caught
sight of them Hays cried: eDon't let
them take u.s." and pulling a revolver
u6 DOlultQ III 6b AIs hiOJos WhO
knocked it down by closing the door.
This occurred three times, and at the
last trial a gentleman came up behind,
and with his cane, struck Hays on the
head Just as he raised the revolver. As
Hays staggered Mr.. Floyd seized him by
the throat. pulled him out of the closet
and succeeded in taking his revolver
away. While this was going on Frank
had an opportunity of shooting Mr..
LLOYD in the back, but did not take ad.
vantage of it, and after Hays was
secured he was also handcuffed. The
police had been summoned by telephone
and Officer Dillon arrived on the scene
in time to assist in conveying the young
charged with burglary. Mr.. Lloyd
stated that while he knew the diamonds
were not IN the room. being worn at
the opera house by Miss Morris, he
was afraid they had succeeded in pick
ing up some other valuables, and he
was determined that they should not
escape. 1t was evident that they had
thought to escape through the door
nearest the stairway, but the prompt
action on the part of Mr.. Lloyd pre-.
vented even an attempt. The keys
which were found on the inside of the
door we're pass keys and skeleton keys,
and were made to fit any door in the
hotel. In their service at the hotel the
bell boys had evidently collected
keys, anticipating such an attempt.
For some time past small articles of jew
elry and valuables have disappeared
from the rooms of some of the guests of
the hotel, and recently diamond ring
valued at $3.50 disappeared. These
losses are now laid on Hays and Frank,
and it is expected that search of their
haunts and belongings will reveal many
things, some Of which have been re.
ported and others which have never
been mentioned. As they intended to
start for San Francisco to-day, it is just
possible that they have packed their
plunder and put it in some place where
1t may be discovered shortly. The po-
lice force has been notified, and detec.
tives are now on the hunt. When
searched at the prison both were found
to have 3S-caliber revolvers, one of
which was at full cock.